GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a right wrist condition due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on his in-service injuries, including exposure to toxic substances during deployments.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine strain is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GERD is being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a dental condition, inguinal hernia, irritable bowel condition (IBS), and skin rashes. The remaining issues of service connection for a chronic joint condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and skin cancer are remanded.

The Veteran's GERD was denied as it is not related to service, while his tension headaches were denied due to lack of in-service onset or relationship.,Service connection for fibromyalgia was granted based on unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI) manifested by back, shoulders, and upper arms pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.,The Board is seeking clarification on the qualifications of the examiner who provided the August and September 2022 opinions, particularly regarding their experience in rheumatology.

The Board has denied service connection for a hiatal hernia with GERD and atypical chest pain, finding that these conditions are not attributable to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), pulmonary embolism, and a bilateral ear condition other than hearing loss and tinnitus.,No determination was made regarding the Veteran's other ear conditions such as impacted cerumen and recurrent ear infections.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his periods of active-duty service.,Service connection is also granted for OSA, with a remand required due to inadequate medical opinion addressing whether the condition was first diagnosed after service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the period prior to August 12, 2022. The appeal continues as a higher rating is not assigned.,The Veteran's PTSD is denied for ratings in excess of 70 percent from August 12, 2022 onward.

The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and right-ear hearing loss have been withdrawn. The Veteran's IBS claim has been granted, as well as his tinnitus claim. His GERD claim is pending and will be remanded.,The Veteran's IBS was found to be service-connected due to his military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. His tinnitus was also found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50% since April 17, 2018, based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,The Veteran is also granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to work in any substantially gainful capacity.

The Veteran's claims have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to substantiate his service connection claims due to potential exposure to burn pits during service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new legislation and incomplete service records, including potential active duty service in Afghanistan.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD and sleep deprivation secondary to GERD due to potential toxic exposure in service, specifically Gulf War deployments. The VA is required to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature of the Veteran's GERD and its relationship to service, including TERA participation. A sleep study may also be necessary.

Right leg shin splints, left leg shin splints, and GERD are granted service connection.,Psychiatric disability is granted with an effective date of November 30, 2017. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's GERD disability, which includes symptoms such as epigastric distress, dysphagia, pyrosis, regurgitation, chest pain, feelings of choking, nausea and vomiting, difficulty breathing at night, coughing, hemorrhoids, and constipation, has been productive of considerable impairment of health since November 27, 2017. The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new medical opinion regarding the onset and cause of GERD, specifically addressing exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between in-service gastritis and current GERD. The Veteran's attorney requested an addendum opinion addressing whether the symptoms associated with diagnosed gastritis were indicative of or related to the currently diagnosed GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for Barrett's esophagus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hiatal hernia with GERD.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis and GERD, finding no evidence of in-service onset or direct causation.